“Not properly, no. But don’t make me spend all day knowing that you’re not talking to me.” He drops to his knees in front of me and looks up. “The days are long enough already.”
“I’m talking to you,” I mutter.
“Then why are you sulking?”
I sigh. “Because a woman has just invaded our home and tried to stake a claim on you, Jesse. That is why I’m sulking.”
“Come here.” He pulls me down and wraps me in his arms. “I love it when you trample.”
“It’s tiring,” I mumble into his chest. “I really need to go.”
“Okay.” He kisses my hair and pulls back, securing my cheeks in his hold. “Tell me we’re friends.”
“We’re friends.”
He blasts my moodiness with his smile—my smile. “Good girl. We’ll make friends properly later. Go get your breakfast. I’ll be two minutes.”
“I need to go,” I remind him, glancing down at my Rolex. “It’s eight thirty already.”
“Two minutes,” he repeats, returning me to standing. “You’ll wait for me.”
“Hurry up then!” I push him away and go to find Cathy in the kitchen. She’s wrapping a bagel and still muttering under her breath. She soon stops when my presence is noted.
“Ava.” She scurries over, wiping her hands down her apron. “I tried to stop the vindictive little minx!”
Something tells me Cathy has had an encounter with Coral before. “Don’t worry, Cathy.” I smile and give her a rub of her arm. “You know her, then?” I press lightly.
“Oh, I know her, and I don’t like her.” She starts muttering again as she returns to the island to finish wrapping my breakfast. “She’s been turning up for months, pestering my boy and claiming poverty. I told her! I said, look here, you conniving little tramp! Leave my boy alone and try fixing your marriage.” I smile as I watch her aggressive hand movements, virtually bashing away at my bagel. “I don’t know how many times my boy has sent her packing. Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned.” She looks up at me. “Have you taken your folic acid?”
“No.” I walk to the fridge and collect a bottle of water before taking the pills that Cathy hands me, followed by a ginger biscuit. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome, dear.” Her wrinkled face grins. “You certainly put her in her place.” She laughs and retrieves my bagel, and then stuffs it in my bag. “You eat that, I mean it.”
“You sound like Jesse.” I down my pills.
“He cares, Ava. Don’t condemn him for that,” she scolds me lightly, looking over my shoulder. “Here he is, and he’s dressed!”
“I’m dressed,” He laughs, straightening his tie. “As is my beautiful wife.”
I roll my eyes, but I don’t feel embarrassed at all. She’s seen it all before, and Coral’s visit has taken the edge off any mortification. “Can I go to work now?”
He pulls his collar down and rubs his three days’ worth of stubble. Two minutes didn’t give him time to shave. “Have you taken your folic acid?”
“Yes.”
“Have you had your breakfast?”
I tap the side of my bag.
“You better eat that,” he warns, taking my hand. “Say good-bye to Cathy.”
“Bye, Cathy!”
“Bye, dear. Bye, my boy!”
I’m a little wary when we leave the penthouse, and even more wary when we step out of the elevator into the foyer of Lusso, but she’s nowhere to be seen. Clive is, though, and I wince as we pass, knowing he’s about to cop it in a big way.
“Morning, Ava. Mr. Ward.” The old boy’s cheerfulness is going to be short-lived once Jesse lets loose.
“Clive,” Jesse begins, “how the hell did a woman make it past you and up to the penthouse?”
The confusion on Clive’s face is clear. “Mr. Ward, I’ve just come on shift.”
“Just?”
“Yes, I relieved the new boy…” He glances down at his watch. “Only ten minutes ago.”
I cringe further. It’s Casey who’ll be copping it. Chancing a peek at my man, I note a look of pure irritation. Casey might do well never to return. “When’s he back on shift?” Jesse asks shortly.
“I finish at four,” Clive confirms. “Did he do something wrong, Mr. Ward? I have advised him of protocol.”
I’m pulled toward the sunlight outside. “For what fucking use it’s done,” Jesse mutters. “John’s taking you to work,” he tells me as we emerge.